Rod-packing



NO'MOaeL J GOGKI'IELD 8v 0. D. HIGGINS.

ROD PACKING.

Patented Apr. 2,1889.

, both the packing-rings.

. UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE;

ROD-PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,438, dated April 2,1889.

Application filed October 23, 1888. Serial No. 288,895. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH COCKFIELD and CLINTON D. HIGGINS, of Boone,county of Boone, and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Metallic Packing for Piston and Valve Rods, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, that will'enableothers to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification. V

The object of this invention is to provide a metallic packing for thepiston-rods and valve-stems of steam-engines, and is more especiallyintended for use on locomotive-engines, the same consisting of certainnovel features in the construction and arrangement of the differentparts, as will be hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing the relative position of thepacking, the stuffing-box, and the rod passing through the same; Fig. 2,a side elevation of one of the packingrings proper; Figs. 3, 4E, and 5,details of a number of backing or filling rings used in connection withthe packing rings proper.

In the drawings, A may represent the end of a steam-cylinder; B, thestuffing-box; B, the piston or valve rod, and B the packinggland.

The packing proper consists of two rings, 0 C, which are exactduplicates, and may be composed of any suitable metal. These rings arein two sections or halves, being divided transversely, and when in useare placed on the rod in such manner with reference to each other as tobreak joints, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The two companionrings 0 O are inclosed by a thinner and lighter ring, a, whichis ofthewidth equal to that of The ring a is also in two parts, and whenplaced in position for use the adjacent ends .are some distance apart,as are also the sectional ends ofthe packing rings C C. lapping ring orband, a, encompasses the whole of the packing-body proper. This openband will ordinarily be composed of spring-steel, and is of less widththan the middle ring, a, and serves the purpose of retaining thesectional rings in their proper position with reference to the rod. Thepress- An outer open over ure of the steam keeps the rings set up to aclose bearing on the rod and compensates for the gradual wear of thebearingsurfaces. The sectional rings and inclosing-band may be of anydesired dimensions or proportions with reference to each other.

The gland B is provided on the inner end with an annular recess, o inwhich is loosely inserted the flanged. sleeve a inclosing the rod andhaving a close bearing on the edge of the packing-ring adjacent theretoand form ing a steam-tight joint. The recess a corresponds to thecontour of the sleeve and its flange, sufficient space being left allaround, so that the sleeve will have play enough in its seat to conformto the vibration of the piston or valve-rod.

In the rear of the packing-rings are located the backing or fillingrings, consisting, first, of the solid ring D, having a flatbearing'edge on that side next to the packing-rings and beveled on theopposite or inner edge, as at a A companion ring, D, is located justback of the ring D, and is the bottom ring in the stuffing-box. The edgeof the ring D adjacent to the beveled edge of the companion ring iscorrespondingly beveled, thus forming a V- shaped groove, a, between thetwo rings. The grooves at a in the rings D D provide passages for steamand the product thereof.

D is an open ring which will ordinarily be in three parts, leaving someconsiderable space between each section, as shown in Fig. 3. This ringis beveled on bothedges to correspond to and fit in the grooves betweenthe edges of the companion rings D D. All annular space, I), is leftbetween the inner circumferential surface of this sectional ring and therod, so as to permit of a wedging action, and thereby confine thepacking to a close lateral bearing. An open spring-ring, b, ineloses thesectional ring D and holds the same in a proper wedging positionrelative to the rings B D, between the beveled ends of which the same isinserted, as shown in Fig. 1. Space is left between the series of ringsand the inclosing stuffing-box to allow a lateral play without binding,and also permit a free entrance of the steam around the outside to exertthe required pressure.

The packing-gland is provided in the outer end with the chamber 1! forthe insertion. of a quantity of waste or other suitable substance forthe purpose of wiping or freeing the rod from dust and dirt before itcomes in contact with the packing-Snrfaees. The chamber (1 is closed bymeans of the movable screw-cap (Z. A second and smaller chamber, (Z andthe drip or 'aste pipe (F, communicating therewith, provides for theescape of the products of condensation.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the companion packing-rings, of the backing orfilling rings I) D, having the adjacent edges beveled, as described, thesectional ring D beveled on both edges to correspond to and wedge inbetween the rings D I), and the compressingring I), inelosing the ring Dsnbstant ially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOS. COCKFIELT). CLINTON l). HIGGINS.

\Yitnesses:

W'. G. COLEMAN, (Inns. R. UARLSON.

